Indexing device for home recorders



June 19, 1945. G. G. BROWN 2,378,510

INDEXING DEVICE FOR HOME RECORDERS Filed Jan. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet lInvader/- 6751 02: 8 filafl 11M $6M, m

June 19, 1945. I G. G. BROWN 2,378,510

INDEXING DEVICE FOR HOME RECORDERS Filed Jan. 14, 1942 2 SheetsSheet' 2Patented June 1c, 194s Philco Radio and Television Corporation,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application January 14,smsims. This invention relates to phonograph apparatus, 'and mor'eespecially to means iorindexing the'stylus of such apparatus in properstarti position with respect to the peripheral edge of a sixandone-hali, eight, or ten-inch blank' disc, ior'example. The-inventionis illustrated with and is particularly useiul in recording "apparatus,and these various sizes are most commonly used in making homerecordings; However, it will be understood that, the indexing means ofthe pres-' ent invention is" adapted for use with records of one'sizeonly, or of any predetermined range oi sizes,-without departing .iromthespiritoi the invention; and the invention might be modified for usewith reproducing apparatus it such should bedesired."

Inimodern home-recording apparatus for phonographs, the stylus isusually located on the under sideoi the cutting arm of the phonograph ina position obscure to the person operating the apparatus. due to thewidth of the arm, crime position of the arm in'the cabinetor both. Thus.considerable difficulty has been encountered in placing the sharp pointof the stylus on the record in proper relation to the peripheral edgethereoiior'obtaining the fullest benefit oi the normal capacity or thedisc without'danser oi the stylus being placed on the rotatlns turntableoi the phonograph, beyond the edge oi the record, I

or by its being placed on the record so close to the edge thereoi thatthe stylus may accidentally slip on therecord onto the turntable or beengaged by the edge 0! the rotating record, which, in any case, usuallyruins the stylus for immediate use.

In'theca'se oi home-recording apparatus operable-in conjunction withradio receivers adapted ior recording broadcastspickedup bythe radio,such as speeches by prominent world-famous peo-;

ple, vocal and instrumental programs, jetc., the opportunity to make acomplete recording is irequently lost by the stylus being improperlyplaced on the record atthe beginning oi that portion oi the broadcastintended to be recorded, i

7111c primary object or the presentinvention is to provide asimple,'emcient, inexpensiveindexing mechanism ior phonograph apparatus,by which the'stylus will be properly positioned on a disc, 1. e.,approximately three-sixteenths oi an inch inwardly iromthe peripheraledge 0! the record, under con'troioi the operator's sense oi reeling,rather than by sense'xoi sight.

Another object or the present inventionis to provide mechanism'oi thekind noted, 'by'which the stylus may be properly positioned on: anyonebase member ll; Secured to the lower end or the a nmnber or records0! mmrlpre 1942, Serial No. 426,781 (01. 21459) sp ective'ly, or on the.face oi a single record at any one oi a number oi cliiierent pointsradially spaced with respect to the axis of rotation of the record.

a Still another object oi the inventionis taprovide an indexing means,which will iunctlonin conjunction with the driving mechanism for thestylus-supporting or cutting" arm, whereby the number of working parts,and, consequently, the

cost oi manufacture, will be reduced to a mini- Stilljanother object oithe invention is to provide an indexing' means which will automaticallybecome eiiective when the stylus-supporting arm is'liited from a normal,inoperative position oi rest and is swung across the record intostarting position, and which will be automatically rendered ineiiectivewhen the arm is lowered to bringthe stylus into engagement with therecord at the indexed starting point. so as to avoid interference withthe normal iunctioning oi the stylus during its period oi engagementwith the record.

The indexing means of the present invention is illustrated, inaccordance with the aforesaid objects, in conjunction with a specialstylus-driving and controlling mechanism forming the sub- Ject matter ofthepresent assignees copending application of Ingo L. Stephan, SerialNo. 425,934, filed January "I, 1942.

9 [The construction and operation of the indexing means of the presentinvention will be fully disclosed hereinaiter, reference being had tothe accompanying drawinga'oi which:

Fig. 1 is avertical sectional elevation of the 85 device as applied to aconventional form of phonograph equipped with a stylus-controlling meansof the aforesaid kind:

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, looking upwardly irom underneath, oi theindexing and driving 40 means shownin Fig. 1; and a Fig. 3 is asectional perspective view, from above, showing the indexing means inits relation in the driving means during the operation oi the recordingapparatus.

As shown in the present drawings, base member of a conventionalphonograph is inns-- trated at II; the turntable at H; the cuttingstylus at I! as being carried by an electro-acoustic." transducer orcartridge l4, which, in turn,

is supported by the stylus-controlling arm n.

'rhestylus arm II is pivoted at I! to a collar it which-is securedto theupper end of a tubular stud shaft ll. f The vertical shaft i1 isrotatably .mounted in a hearing I which is secured to the shaft I1 is astylus-driving arm I, which is provided with a segmental extension ll,the outer arcuate edge of which is adapted for frictional drivingengagement with a driving pinion ll formed on a hub element 21. The hubelement 21 is rotatably mounted on a pivot stud II, which is supportedby a swing plate 23.

The swing plate 23 is pivoted at 22 to a subbase element 20, which issupported from the main base II by the hearing I! and screws II. Theplate 28 is adapted to be swung about its pivot, under the influence ofa spring 2! to maintain firm frictional drivin contact between the II ofthe stylus-driving arm II. p

The hub ll; of which the pinion 3! forms an integral part, is. adaptedto be intermittently rotated, through a ratchet wheel II secured to theupper end oi the hub element 21, by a spring biased pawl II which ispivotally mounted on an actuating lever ii. The lever Ii is looselymounted on a stepped portion of the hub 21 for free relative oscillationwith respect thereto! pinion II and the arcuate edge of the segment Theactuating lever II is oscillated normally,

during a recording operation, by a cm or eeindexing bar 00, for exertingan upward pressure on .the indexing pin I.

The upper end of the indexing pin $5 is adapted to enter one of aplurality of indexing apertures l1, It or II, formed in the driving armI! or its segmental extension II.

The bracket 0 is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced aligning lugsor fingers 10, ll be- .tween which the bar It slides. A block or platell of fibre is disposed between the posts or fingers II, II, above thebar It to provide a smooth bearing surface for said bar duringlongitudinal shifting movement thereof.-

' From the foregoing description, taken in con- Junction with theillustrations of the drawings, it will be clear that, when starting arecording on either a six and one-half, eight or ten inch record, withthe stylus am it in a position outwardly beyond the periphery oitheturntable ll,

centric disc 14 attached to the turntable II, for

concurrent rotation therewith and with a blank disc record D seatedfiatly on the turntable. The cam disc 34 operates against a cam followerII which is rotatably mounted on the outer-end of the actuating leverII, a spring I! normally maintaining contact therebetween during therecording operation.

The foregoing description applies solely to the driving means for thestylus arm l3 and serves as a basis for the description of theconstruction and operation of the indexing ,means which forms thesubject matter of-the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, a bracket "is iooseb mounted on the lower end of thevertical tubular shaft l'l, below the driving arm ll. Pivoted at II tothe bracket it is a bell-crank lever It, The upper edge of one arm ll ofthe bell-crank lever n is adapted to be engaged by the lower rounded endof a push rod Ii, which is mounted within the bore of the tubular shaftll. The upper rounded endof the push rod II is adapted to be engagedbythe head of an adjustable abutment screw I4, carried by the stylus armII, in axial alignment with the shaft II which afiords" horizontalswinging movement of the arm l8, and in laterally oifset relation to thepivot I2 which afiords vertical swinging movement of the arm i3.

The second arm It of the bell'crank lever I is provided with one, ortwo, laterally-extending pins 81 which fit withinlongitudinally-elongatedslots or recesses 58 formed in alongitudinallyshiftable indexing bar OI. A spring ll, stretched betweenand having its opposite ends, respectively, secured'to a Part of thebracket II and apart of the indexing bar member ll, tends to maintainthe indexing bar in a forward position I with respect to the axis of theshaft II.

The outer or forward end of the indexing-bar I v I is bifurcated at llto span a circular portion 02, of reduced diameter, of the h b 21,within an annular groove 83 formed in said hub member.

Spaced" inwardly from its bifurcated end II, the bar II is provided witha vertical bearing "a for slidably supporting an axially-movableindexing pin ll. The head of the indexingpin Ii is engaged by one end ofa fiat spring I, the opposite end of which isrigidly secured to the andwith the driving sector 4| in the position arm ill; in' a positionradially disposed with respect to the axis of the shaft I! whichcorresponds to ths radius of the arc, swung from the center of. theshaft l1, on which the indexing indentations or openings 61, II and itare formed inthe drivingarm ll.

The stylus-support ng arm it is then manually swung inwardly over theturntable ll (carrying with it the indexing sector I!) to place thestylus II in proper position on the record D' adjacent the peripheraledge of the record, which may be oi a six and one-half, eight, or teninch diameter, as desired. If, for example, a ten inch record is to bemade, the manual swinging of the stylus arm II will be stopped, orfurther inward movement thereof resisted to an extent to be felt by theperson swinging the am It, byreason of the indexing opening 01 in sectorIII of the driving arm ll being the first of the index spots 61, it andN to be brought into. alignment with the indexing pin It. The upperrounded end of the indexing pin I will be projected, by the spring. intosaid index opening 81. The relative positioning of the aperture .1 issuch that the stylus will then be in correct position with respect tothe peripheral edge of the ten inch disc D for beginning the formationor av continu'ously spiral sound groove in'the I face of the record I).

The pressure of the spring fingerflfis such that the operator will beaware of a definite resistance to further swinging movement of thestylus arm It and thus realise that the first indexing position, foraten inch record, has been reached.

when the pin a registers" with the. hole 81,

with the ten inch record on the turntable H, the

stylus arm II is then lowered. In so doing, the

abutment ll; carried by the arm, forces the push ,rod ll downwardly,against the action of the spring II, and rock the bell-crank lever 82about its pivot ll. Rocking of the bell-crankleverinthismannermovestbeindexingbar" $3,878,510 y, i; e; toward theshai't 'l'l, a ainst the actionot the spring II, which causes theindexing pin OI to be moved out or the indexing sn r 1 ture II to aposition inwardly beyond the radius on which the openings ll, Ilandllareformed," I

as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the bifurcated or iorked [end I oijthe barIll permitting suchinward longitudinal shifting of the indexing bar".

When the 'ten .inch recording is completed,

thearm ll'is again raisedfto swing the stylus outwardly beyond ,theperipheral edge of the record, 13,- the elements reassuming the generalrelationship s o n F1 31 at the start oi the outward movement 7 oi thestylus-supporting arm when the'stylus arm, nfa in its extreme out- 7horizontal movement thereof for indicating" illustrating the principlesof the invention only,

and are not to be considered asfpia'c'ing any limi tations on theinvention aside from the scope or the appended claims, as dictated theprior art.

I claim: 1 In a phonograph apparatus employing a disc record and a stylumanually movablehorizontally across and vertically with respect to saida record from a" rest position tree of the record to an operatingposition in contact with the record, indexing means including-oneelement connected to said stylus and controlled exclusively by sumarrival of the stylus at a point in vertical reglowered position oirest, the bearing; pad ll on the stylus-supporting arm lt bears 1against therest fllwhich iscarried or h ll, and which may be adjusted'tosuchan elevation as to prevent the point orthe stylus ll fromstriking'or restlngpn llfunder.

e-heir men record is) such circumstances.

If an eight ora six V to be recorded, the same operations, as previouslynoted, are i'ollowedthrough; However; when the v stylus comes intoposition for a ten inch record.- the indexing pin "would again enter thelower end of the indexing aperture't'l. but, if an ei ht inch record,ior exa mple, is to be made, continued movement inwardly or the arm I 3will cause the index pin II to ride out oithe ten inch istry with saidoperating position, and means including a member connected to saidstylus-andv controlled'exclusivel'y bysaid vertical movement Y forcooperation with said element to eflect'the indication of. arrival ofthe stylus at said-point while the stylus is raised oil the record andfor rendering said indexing meansineflective when said stylus is loweredinto contact with the 2. In a phonofiraph apparatusemploying a disc rrecord and a stylus manually movable horizontally across and verticallydownward with respect to said record from a re'stposltion free of therecord'to an'operating position in contact withthe record, indexingmechanism for establishing aperture 11 into-contact with the under I"side of the am Is.- to bear against the underside I of the arm, on theare 01, the, apertures .1, ll and es, until the indexing pin is snapsinto'th fi ht inch indexing'aperture It. I

Ii' a sixgand one-hall inch record 'istoibe recorded, iurthe'r continuedswinging of the l3 inwardly will cause the pin ll to ride out oi theeight inch indexing aperture Cl and along the underside or the arm ll,into then: and onehali' inch indexing aperture It. Then, as the arm I3is lowered about its pivot II, to bring'the stylus ll into contact withthe record I), the bar ll be shifted inwardly from the. position ahowninFigzl to that shown in Fig. 3,;wherein 1 the indexing pin II isdrawn'out or aperture ll said contact at a predetermined point spacedinwardly from the peripheral edge of the record comprising meansincluding one element connected to said stylus and movable through apreh determined path in response to horizontal move- 'men t oi thestylus, and intercepting means ineluding one member connected to saidstylus and cooperative with said element'oi said first means andresponsive to upward vertical movement of the stylus in conjunction withhorizontal movement oi the-stylus to eflect indexing of the stylus inalignment with said operating position and thereafter responsive todownward movement of the stylus to render-said indexing mechanismineiiective. a v

,3. In a phonograph apparatus employing a disc 8 record and a stylusmanually movable horizontally across and vve'rticallywith respect tosaid record from ,a rest position free of the record to an operatingposition in contact with the record,

indexing mechanism for establishing said contact 1 at a predeterminedpolnt spaced inwardly from While the invention has been described incone nection with the indexing ofthe stylus on records of-diflerentdiameters, respectively, the principles or the invention'areequailyapplicable to indexin: the stylus at diflerent' distancesinwardly the peripheral 3edgeloi a single'frecord.

or more separate inderings therebetween'; s desired. such an mplicationor theinventio'n has special-utility in the vhome for recording shortsow. recitations sayin s ofsmall children, for example. or forotherdesired purpose? v The ioregoinldescriptiomand the constructhedrawings, while disclosing a practical term or the invention. areprovided for the peripheral edge of the record comprising meansincluding one element connected to said stylus and'movable through apredetermined path -in response to horizontal-movement of the stylus andintercepting means including one member connected to said stylus andcooperative withsaid element of said first means and movable into andout of said path in response to vertical movement of the stylus. a

7,4, In a phonograph apparatus'employing va disc record and a stylusmanually movable horizontally acros and vertically withrespect to saidrecord from-a rest position tree of the record to an operating position.in contact with the record, indexing mechanismior establishing saidcontact at a predetermined point spaced inwardlyfrom the peripheral edgeof the record vcomprising means including one element connected to saida stylus and, movable through a predetermined path in to, horizontalmovement 01 the stylus and intercepting means including one memberconnected to said stylus and cooperative with said element of said firstmeans and yieldablysupportedinsaidpath.

5. Inc. phonograph apparatus employing a disc record and a stylusmanually movable horizontally across and vertically with respect to saidrecord from a rest position free oi the record to an operating positionin contact with the record, indexing mechanism for establishing saidcontact at a predetermined point spaced inwardly from the peripheraledge of the record comprising means including one element movablethrough a predetermined path in response to horizontal movement oi thestylus, intercepting means including one element in said path andcooperative with said first means a yieldable support forone of saidelements, and one of said elements including a plurality of positionindicators engageable consecutively with the other of said elements.

6. In a phonograph apparatus employing a disk record and a stylusmanually movable horizontally across and vertically with respect to saidrecord from a rest position free of the record to an operating positionin contact with the record; indexing means including two independentlymovable cooperating stop members, means operatively. connecting one ofsaid members to said stylus to be responsive to said horizontal movementfor indicating arrival of the stylus atfla point in vertical registrywith said opezating position, and separate means operatively connectingthe other of said members to said stylus to be responsive to saidvertical movement for rendering said indexing means ineiiective whensaid stylus is lowered into contact with the recrd,

7. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means including apivoted arm for supporting said stylus and mounted for movement acrossand perpendicular to a record from a rest position. to an operativeposition, indexing means remoteiv situated with respect to saidstylussupporting arm for stopping the movement of mid supporting meansacross the record at predetermined points spaced from said rest positioncomprising an element in the form oi a second arm movable in the recordcrossing direction with said stylus-supporting arm, a relatively fixedelement, relatively spaced indentations on one of said elements, adetent on the other of said elements for engaging said indentationsconsecutively, and means comprising a train of component links andlevers operatively connecting said stylus-supporting arm and one 01 saidelements of said indexing means responsive to said perpendicularmovement of the stylus-supporting means for eilecting disengagement oithe detent from any one oi! the indentations engaged thfilfiby.

8. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means including apivoted arm for supporting said stylus and mounted for movement acrossand perpendicular to a record from a rest position to an operativeposition, indexing means remotely situated with respect to saidstylussupporting arm for stopping the movement of said supporting meansacross the record at predetermined points spaced from said rest positioncomprising an element in the form of a second arm movable in the recordcrossing direction with said stylus supporting arm, a relatively fixedelement. relatively spaced indentations arranged in a line on one ofsaid elements, a detent on the other 0! said elements forinterengagement with said indentations consecutively, andmeanscomprising a train of component links and levers operativelyconnecting said stylus-supporting arm and one of said elements of saidindexing means responsive to said perpendicular movement of thestylus-supporting means for shifting one oi said elements crosswise tosaid line for electing alignment and disalignment of the detent andindentations.

across the record at predetermined points comprising an element in theform of a second arm movable in the record crossing direction with saidstylus-supporting arm, a relatively fixed element spaced from said restposition, relatively spaced indentations arranged in a line on one ofsaid elements, a detent on the other oi. said elements for engaging saidindentations consecutively, and means comprising a train of componentlinks and levers operatively connecting said stylus-supportingarm andone of said elements of said indexing means operable by saidperpendicular movement or the stylus-supporting means for shifting oneof said element radially with respect to the pivotal axis 01' saidstylus support across said line for eiiecting alignment and disalignmentoi the detect and indentations.

10. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means pivotallysupporting said stylus and mounted for movement across and perpendicularto a record from a rest position to an operative position, indexingmeans for stopping the movement of said supporting means across therecord at predetermined point spaced from said rest position comprisingan element movable with said stylus-supporting means, a relatively fixedelement, relatively spaced indentations on one of said elements, adetent on the other of said elements for engaging said indentationsconsecutively, means operable by said perpendicular movement of thestylus supporting means for shifting one oi said elements radially withrespect to the pivotal axis of said stylus supporting means comprising arod engagcable at one end with said supporting means, and meansengageable with the opposite end of said rod for effecting said radialshitting movement of said one element and consequent alignment anddisalignment of the detent and indentations.

'11. In a phonograph apparatus employing a stylus, means pivotallysupporting said stylus for movement inwardly across and perpendicular toa record from a rest DO tion to an operative position, indexing meansfor'stopplng said movement at predetermined points spaced from said restposition comprising an element movable with said stylus, a relativelyfixed element, relatively spaced indentation on one of said elements, adetent on the other of said elements for engagement with saidindentations consecutively, means responsive to said perpendicularmovement of the stylus support for shiftingonc otsaid elements radiallywith respect to the pivotal axis of said stylus support for eflectingalignment and disaligmnent of the detent and indentations, comprising arod engageable at one end with said support, and a bell-crank leverengageable with the oppomte end of said rod and connected to the elementadapted to be shifted.

12. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a groove-cuttingstylus, moans pivotally supporting said stylus for movement acrossprising indexing means and and'perpendicular to a record from a restposition to an operative position, indexing means for stopping saidmovement at predetermined points spaced from said rest position,comprising an element movable with said stylus, a relatively fixedelement, relatively spaced indentations on one of said elementaa detenton the other of said elements for engagement with said indentationsconsecutively, means responsive to said perpendicular movement of thestylus support for shifting one of said elements radially with respectto the pivotal axis of said stylus support for eiiecting alignment anddisalignment of the detent and indentations, comprising a rodengageable,

at one end with said support, a bell-crank lever enla eable with theopposite end of said rod and connected to said shiftable element andresilient means for urging said radial movementin one direction.

18. In a recording apparatus for phonographs' employing a stylus forcutting a sounigroove in' a record, a shaft, an arm secured to one endof the shaft and supporting the stylus for swinging.

movement over and perpendicular to the record from a rest position to anoperative position, an

index arm secured to the 'shaft for swinging movement concurrently withsaid stylus-supporting arm, a post radially disposed with respect tosaid shaft, an index bar radially disposed with respect to said shaftandsaid post and slidably supported at one endby said post, 'abell-crank lever supporting and connected to said bar adiacent saidshaft, a push rod coaxial with and axially slidable 'in said shaftwithone end 'engasing said bell-crank lever and its opposite endengageable by said stylus-supporting arm, a detent carried by said baradjacent said index arm, and

. a plurality of indentations in said index arm relatively spaced on anarc concentricto said shaft, saidbarbeing shiftable radially withrespect to said shaft and carrying said detent into and out of circularali nment with said are in response to perpendicular movements of saidstylus-sup- 14. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing astylus movable from a position "08 a record to aposition "on" the recordmanualb' and thereafter across the record under power to cute soundgroove therein, said apparatus com H (giving means for the stylusincluding-an element ommon to both *iaid means, means operativelyconnecting said common element with said stylus for concurrent movementbetween said on and o positions /or the stylus means engageable withsaid com mon element to indicate registry oi the stylus with said fon"position, and means engageable with said common element for driving thestylus across the record.

15. In a'recording apparatus for phonolraphs 4 employing a stylusmovable from a position "of!" a record to a position "on the recordmanually and thereafter across the record under power to cut a soundgroove therein, said apparatus com-- prising indexing means and drivingmeans for the stylus including an element common to both said means,means operatively connecting said prising indexing means and drivingmeans for the a stylus including an element common to bothsaidmeans.means operatively connecting said common element with said stylus forconcurrent movement between said fon" and ofl positions of the stylusmeans including an element engageable with said common element at one ofa plurality of predetermined points on said common element to indicateregistry of the stylus with said on" position for one of a plurality ofdiiferently sized records, and means engageable with said common elementfor driving the stylus across the record.

1']. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a stylus movablefrom a position ofP' a record to a position on" a record manually andthereafter across the record under power to cut a sound groove in therecord, said apparatus comprising a pivoted arm for supporting saidstylus, a second arm operatively connected to said stylussupporting armto pivot therewith, intercepting means in thepath of said second arm toindicate arrival of the stylus at said "on" position, and rotary meansengageable with said second arm to drive said stylus across the record.

18. In a recording apparatus for phonographs employing a stylus movablefrom a position "01!" a record to apposition "011 a record manually andthereafter across the record under power to cut a sound groove in therecord, said apparatus comprising a pivoted arm for supporting saidtylus, a second arm operatively connected to said stylus-supporting armto pivot therewith. resilient intercepting means projecting into thepath of said second arm to indicate arrival of the stylus at a pluralityof "on" positions conseeutively, and rotary means engageable with i saidsecond arm to drive said stylus across the GILBERT .G.

